Woodland shawl

Here are some preliminary photos of the Woodland shawl.



I just found the camera underneath the sofa! So I went straight outside to take a picture of the shawl.



It doesn´t look like much now, in it's unblocked state. Just keep in mind that it'll look much more like the original after it's blocked.

I haven't been knitting much lately due to work. I wasn't even home, except for sleeping, last week. We had our Board Meetings, where our sponsors see what we have done in the last 6 months. Meetings during the day. Dinners during the night. It was an interesting week.

I didn't knit a lot this week. The house needed some serious work, especially the laundry, which I normally do, but was neglected due to work. I caught up on some knitting podcasts today while I was folding the laundry and putting away.

While the girls took their nap, I started Muir! Yes! I got 3 rows into it before Ása Sóley woke up. I'm wanting to start another pattern too. This one would be my own pattern. I'll keep you posted.

Saturdays for sewing

I decided last week that Saturdays were for sewing. That was established in the week before by sewing up of the kitchen towel. This Saturday was a little different. I went to Columbus with couple of knitting friends of mine. The main reason for our 3 hour round trip was a William Wigman exhibition at OSU.

But first things first. The yarn shop was our first stop. I got yarn for Muir, beautiful green (melange forest) Misti Alpaca Lace.

Then I got the girls to go with me to the cross stitch store next door. How nice. That was my first time in a real cross stitch LYS (or LNS?). They hade stitched designs all over the store. Everywhere you could fit them and hanging from the ceiling as well.

I got this, this and this. Are you noticing a theme here? I love halloween and halloween decorations. I never had Halloween before. Once when I was an exchange student in Canada in 1991 and then last year as well. Kamilla is even more exited about Halloween and keeps asking if it is Halloween yet (how about now mom?).

When I got home I got all the stuff ready for Ghoulies and Ghosties and even started it! I haven´t started a cross stitching project in ages (and not worked on one for a while either).

We went to a spice store, where I got Apple Pie spice and dried Coriander leaves. And we had an early dinner at an Indian 'hole in the wall' restaurant called Dosa Corner.



Vexner Hall, the place where the exhibition was held is closed to Urban Outfitters. We popped in there first and I got a new wall hanging on sale ($5).

The exhibition was, in one word, 'funny'. Actually hilarious would describe it better. I encourage you to go and see his works if you have the change.

Last weekend was all about finishing. This weekend was all about starting new projects. I already mentioned the Just Nan Ghoulies and Ghosties. I had this inner urge to start more projects, so I started the Woodland Shawl with Trekking XXL sock yarn. The pattern requires only one 100 gr. ball of sock yarn. This yarn is so soft and yummie.

I also wanted to start Muir, but it didn't go so well. I had to stop in mid-row and when I pulled it up again some stitches had slipped of the needles. I have to start over but I'd only worked couple of rows. It starts with crochet cast-on and I can use the crochet chain again.

Since I didn't get around to sewing this weekend (we went to my coworkers house to dinner yesterday, where I ended up being the mosquitos' dinner) I bid you farwell with pictures of my sewing mistakes from the past (past being August 2007).

The Year of A-Longs

There seems to be a theme to this year (2007). Stitch-a-longs and knit-a-longs or 'A-longs'.

I started doing the Monthly Dishcloth KAL, beginning í Jan. They have KALs, starting the 1. and the 16. of the month. Right now we're on the second day of the Feb. KAL, my third one.

I'm also doing the 'Petite Maison de Campagne' (eng. 'Little Country House') SAL over at Grille de Maryse. I'm still doing the January bit. I thought I was going to have it finished before Feb. rolled around but I haven't been as productive stitcher as I hoped for.

My stitching group, Allt í kross, is having a Secret SAL. I prepared for it weeks ago (about 2 weeks) and the first part comes today. Not that I will be doing any stitching tonight. It's our anniversary. Five years and counting.

FO overload

I got some photos loaded up:



This is the first dishcloth from the Monthly Dishcloth group (which reminds me, the Mid January KAL started today).



This is the crocheted ornament I got in my Christmas 'card' from Garnstudio. It's quick to make and I'm happy I made an ornament at all. See previous post. The thread is a white nylon (or some kind of plastic) with glitter. Very festive ;)



This is a front part of a pillow I'm making. It's made up of crochet solid granny squares. I like these (the solid) better than the regular version. This is inspired by Mustaa Villaa's pot holders and the granny square blanket-wannabe I made (see next picture). It's made out of leftover cotton yarn (Mandarin Classic) and cotton/polyester blended yarn from Europris. I recommend the blended cotton for a pillow since it's softer, but the regular cotton (mercerized) is fine as well.

I was going to use fabric for the back but am leaning towards knitted back.



Here are the girls modeling with the granny square blanket. I made the granny squares, but gave up on the blanket and ended up using the rest of the yarn (I only bought half the yarn required) for the Log Cabin blanket (see next photo) plus other yarn. My stepmom sewed the squares together with the ingenious method of machine sewing (zigzaging) them together. It's looks really good and you can't even tell it's machine sewed. She then sent us the blanket for Christmas.



I finished 8 rounds of the Log Cabin. I still have yarn for at least one more round, but I decided to weave in the remaining ends and use as is for a while and give the project a little rest. Kamilla loves the blanket and thinks it's for her. In reality it's for me but don't tell her ;)

Winter knitting

It's getting to be a more like winter here. Freezing temperatures and whatnot. I wish I'd already finished couple of things that are on my needles.

• Monkey - Knit with green Hjertegarn sock yarn (Danish), which I bought in Álafoss, factory outlet for Icelandic wool. I'm not knitting it with variegated like it's designed for, but it seems to be fine nonetheless. I wanted a textured sock with this yarn and this pattern sure is textured.
  
  I'm knitting them with two circular needles (what else) and the project has been in my purse. Problem is I don't go anywhere and if I do I have 1-2 toddlers with me so I have my hands full anyways. So I have upgraded this project to an around-the-house project.
  
  
• Rennd lopapeysa. This was all the rave couple of years ago. I had no interest in it until I moved here. I knitted the torso already and have started one of the sleeve. It's knit with Lamb's pride bulky, very soft (15% mohair). I just wished it was finished already.
  
  

Then I have a cross stitch project I've been working every day (basically) and a crochet project, that is finished (the crochet part). But the finishing is not done yet. I'll show you the crochet one as soon as I get the photos uploaded from my camera.

Kinda Lost

I'm kind of lost right now, knitting wise. I've finished the bulk of the little projects I have and the others are not calling me. I have a crochet project, but I lost the hook. I have a washrag, but that's more of a travelling project and in-between project (I have actually been using it a bit lately). I have the log-cabin blanket, but the yarn is now in my bedroom and everytime I need it the bedroom contains a sleeping baby. Finally I have a shawl, Swallowtail shawl from Interweave Knits Fall 06, but I was knitting it while listening to the Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman and now, when I pick it up and start knitting I feel that I miss the book and I can't stop thinking about it. It's not often that books have this effect on me. So I become a little sad. Plus, the pattern is not easy (or least not for me for some reason) so I tend to make mistakes and then spending a long time to try to fix them.

I ordered yarn on Ebay for couple of christmas presents. It never showed up. The seller is going to send me more in different color. It's weird how the yarn just disappeared.

Well. I have to go now. Being harassed by Kamilla :) he he. Next post will continue in the same depressing manner, when I talk about my recent adventures in felting.